Guest Blog: To Speak of Wolves

Today we’ve got a guest blog written by Gage Speas, vocalist of To Speak of Wolves.

I’m sitting at a truck stop right now in Reno, Nevada. My first record comes out in thirty minutes. I’m not playing a show or having a CD release party or even hanging out with family. I’m sitting on a curb drinking a $1.50 coffee, listening to Eric Church at a truck stop. To be completely honest this is exactly where I want to be. 

I’m 21 years old about to be 22. I live in a van with five other dudes. I don’t take showers very often or wear clean clothes. I don’t make any money. But what I do is live my dream. I’m one of the few people my age who can say that. I feel very blessed to be able to say that. I’ve been touring constantly for the last four years. This is seriously all I know. This is what God has given me. We live in a time where kids are too scared to be who they want to be. They see their dreams but never reach for them. That is the saddest to me. I feel like I’m supposed to talk about my record that’s about to be out. So this is what I’m gonna say about it. It’s titled “Find Your Worth, Come Home”. I have never dumped so much of my life into something. If you do listen to it. I hope you are inspired to RISE up! I hope it gets the gears in your heart and soul turning.

To break the mold of having a “normal” life. You have one life to live, that’s all you get. I believe this is the time where YOU reach for your dreams and be who you want to be. My first record just hit the shelves in stores all over the country and maybe some other places around the world. I’m sitting on a curb at a truck stop, drinking cheap coffee, and listening to country music. This is exactly where I want to be.

Review: To Speak of Wolves - Find Your Worth, Come Home

To Speak of Wolves - Find Your Worth, Come Home
Record Label: Solid State Records
Release Date: May 22nd, 2012

I first heard of Greensboro, NC natives To Speak of Wolves when I saw them open for Underoath and Emery back in 2009. Releasing “Myself<Letting Go” to rave reviews in 2010, the band lost original vocalist, Rick Jacobs and picked up Oh, Sleeper’s merch guy Gage Speas for vocal duty. After seeing the band three times (once with Rick Jacob and twice with Gage Speas, I can honestly say they’ve found their sound with the new vocalist. “Find Your Worth, Come Home" contains two guest vocals from Micah Kinard of Oh, Sleeper on “Stand Alone Complex”, and Levi the Poet on “Rearview Memories” which gives the album variation. To Speak of Wolves waste no time shifting into high gear with the ferocious opener, "Hivemind" which smashes through the wall and grabs you by the throat. It’s quite obvious the band are influenced by The Chariot and Norma Jean (back when they had Josh Scogin in the band) which is evident in guitarists Corey Doran and Aaron Kisling’s chaotic playing even more so in Gage’s raw vocals. Thankfully, their guitar playing stands out among hundreds of other bands who prefer chugging and breakdowns over innovative riffs. Phil Chamberlain’s drumming really shines through on this record, especially on the songs, "Je Suis Fini", "Broken Birds", and Hivemind. It’s safe to say that To Speak of Wolves have secured their place as one of Solid State’s next big bands.

8.5/10